Chicago and Illinois have milestones to celebrate on Labor Day

Chicago is famous for many things: our food — it’s tavern-style, not deep dish — our sports teams, our iconic lakefront and the Midwestern kindness of our people. And as well known as the Chicago-style dog, we should be the most proud of our city’s pivotal role in the modern-day labor movement.

From the Haymarket affair in 1886 to fighting for an eight-hour workday to the Pullman railroad strike in 1894 to the Memorial Day Massacre during the "Little Steel" strikes in 1937, our tradition of labor activism makes us proud to call Chicago the hometown of the American labor movement.

Our membership continues to live these values of determination, organizing and community every day as we shape our agenda for working people and workers’ rights.

Labor Day serves as an important inflection point as we pay tribute to the struggles that have shaped us and recommit ourselves to the work ahead. This Labor Day, we have so much to be proud of and much to look forward to.

Just a few weeks ago, we had the honor of showcasing our city’s work ethic and reputation on a national stage at the Democratic National Convention. The 2024 DNC was union-strong from start to finish, bolstered by a historic labor peace agreement with nearly a dozen unions that was signed earlier than ever before. We showed the country why Chicago is the best city in the nation for conventions because of our diverse, union workforce.

During the DNC, we had the opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to President Joe Biden, whose legacy will be cemented as one of the most pro-labor presidents in history.

While Illinois and Chicago are strongholds for workers’ rights, outdated federal labor laws have diminished workers’ rights and given employers an unfair advantage in many parts of the country.

But the Biden-Harris administration’s bold agenda has made tremendous gains for workers. Since 2020, they have delivered investments in millions of good union jobs, increased funding for the National Labor Relations Board and held lawbreaking employers accountable for bad acts.

Vice President Kamala Harris has been an invaluable partner in this work, and she and Gov. Tim Walz will continue to prioritize workers’ rights should she be elected in November.

The Chicago Federation of Labor workforce and membership have been at the forefront of several legislative victories for workers this year. In July, the Chicago paid leave ordinance officially went into effect, making Chicago a national leader in securing paid time off for workers. This historic win will improve job retention, bolster the economy and protect public health when workers are not forced to choose between their health and their jobs.

With our support, Cook County passed similar paid leave legislation for suburban municipalities that also took effect this year.

At the state level, we were proud to advocate for the Illinois Worker Freedom of Speech Act, which Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law July 31. This legislation protects workers from coercive anti-union, religious or political speech from employers, including "captive audience" meetings.

This legislation is a critical safeguard to ensure that workers do not have to compromise their personal values to keep a job. The bill, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025, would not have been possible without the coalition of advocates and state lawmakers that came together around our shared goal.

At the core of our movement, past and present, is the solidarity and strife we share with our fellow brothers and sisters in labor. I am grateful for the advances we’ve made and causes we’ve championed, and hopeful of what Chicago can — and will — continue to deliver for workers. This Labor Day, let our hometown’s illustrious history in the labor movement serve as a model for what is possible when we prioritize working people.

Bob Reiter is president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, the third-largest central labor council of the national AFL-CIO.

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